Knee arthritis can be painful, debilitating and, in its most severe forms, life altering. There are many different treatment options available ranging from medication to surgery. Many medications exist to reduce pain and inflammation of arthritis in such a way as to increase overall mobility, control swelling and lessen the painful effects of the degenerative process.
Aspirin
Aspirin has bee a stalwart for the treatment of pain. In fact, it was the drug of choice for many years in the treatment of arthritis. Aspirin is considered an anti-pyretic (fever-reducer) and an analgesic (pain reliever). It possesses qualities that contribute to potentially undesirable side effects such as prolonged bleeding times and erosion of the gastric (stomach) lining causing ulcers.
Taken judiciously, aspirin can be a literal life saver in battling against heart attacks. It also can be a significant help to arthritis sufferers who don't have contraindications to its use.
NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that have been developed for the treatment of pain. Its most common use is in the treatment of pain from arthritis as well as injuries and inflammation to ligaments, muscles and tendons. The drugs act differently than aspirin in that they are designed to enter the blood stream, travel to the areas of inflammation and work their magic by interrupting the chain of events that occur in the pain cycle. Because they are nonsteroidal, they don't have the same side-effect potential. NSAIDs act by reducing the inflammation that causes pain instead of dulling the brain's perception of pain as narcotics do.
Narcotic Medication
Narcotics are potent pain relievers. They also carry with them a high risk of dependency (addiction) because of the effects they have on the central nervous system.
As mentioned earlier, narcotics exert their action by interrupting the pain impulses that are received by the brain, thus relieving it. They do nothing, however, to actually alter the root cause of the pain, mainly inflammation and caustic chemicals produced in response to it.
Visco-Supplementation
Another form of treatment for knee arthritis is called visco-supplementation. This procedure involves the injection of a thick, gel-like substance into the knee joint for the purpose of increasing lubrication and decreasing friction, which ultimately reduces pain. The substance is made of hyaluronic acid, which is a critical (and normally present) component found in the normal joint fluid in the body.
Treatment varies from a single injection to one injection weekly for several weeks, depending on the brand used. These injections are the most beneficial in cases of mild to moderate arthritis.
